MATSEC IM Home Economics flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Energy value of fat

Fat supplies 9 kilocalories per gram, more than twice the energy of carbohydrate or protein, which each supply 4 kilocalories per gram.

Body mass index

BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Adults are classed underweight below 18.5, healthy 18.5 to 24.9, obese at 30 or above.

Haem versus non-haem iron

Haem iron from meat, fish and poultry is absorbed efficiently. Non-haem iron from plants is absorbed better with vitamin C and less well with tannins and phytates.

Gelatinisation

Starch granules absorb water and swell when heated, then rupture and release amylose, which sets into a gel as the mixture cools.

Maillard reaction

Browning that occurs when reducing sugars react with amino acids at high temperatures, producing colour and flavour, as in toast and roast meat.

Emulsion types

An emulsion is a dispersion of one liquid in another. Oil-in-water examples include milk and mayonnaise; water-in-oil examples include butter and margarine.

Danger zone temperatures

Bacteria multiply fastest between 5 and 63 degrees Celsius. Keep chilled food below 5 and hot food above 63 degrees Celsius.

HACCP

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point is a seven-principle system identifying biological, chemical and physical hazards and controlling them at critical points.

Use-by versus best-before

A use-by date is a safety date and must not be exceeded. A best-before date is a quality date and food may still be safe after it.

Cross-contamination

Transfer of harmful microorganisms from raw food, hands, surfaces or equipment to ready-to-eat food, prevented by separation and thorough cleaning.

Piaget's stages

Cognitive development stages: sensorimotor from birth to two years, preoperational two to seven, concrete operational seven to eleven, formal operational from eleven.

Erikson's psychosocial stages

Eight life stages each with a crisis to resolve, including trust versus mistrust in infancy and identity versus role confusion in adolescence.

Authoritative parenting

A style combining high warmth with high but reasonable control and explanation, associated with the most positive child outcomes.

Family life cycle

Stages a family passes through, from childless beginning through childbearing, school-age, teenage, launching, empty nest and ageing.

Cotton fibre properties

A natural cellulosic fibre that is absorbent, breathable and strong when wet, but creases easily, shrinks and dries relatively slowly.

Care label symbols

Standard symbols on garments indicating maximum wash temperature, bleaching permitted, tumble drying, ironing temperature and dry cleaning instructions.

Cost per wear

Purchase price divided by the number of times an item is worn, used to compare the real value of clothing choices.

Fibre burning test

Identification test where cotton smells of burning paper and leaves soft ash, while wool smells of burning hair and leaves a crushable bead.

Housing tenure types

The legal basis on which a home is occupied: owner-occupied with or without mortgage, private rented, or social housing provided by a council or housing association.

Thermal comfort factors

Comfort depends on air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, air movement and clothing, not on air temperature alone.

Universal design

Designing homes and products usable by everyone regardless of age or ability, using level access, wide doorways, lever handles and good lighting.

Condensation and mould

Moisture in warm air condenses on cold surfaces, encouraging mould growth. Prevented by ventilation, heating and reducing moisture production.

Consumer redress

The process of obtaining a remedy for faulty goods or poor service: complain to the trader, then a consumer body, then a court.

Unit pricing

Price per standard unit such as per 100 grams or per litre, allowing fair comparison between products of different pack sizes.

Planned obsolescence

Designing products with a limited useful life so consumers must replace them, raising concerns about waste and consumer rights.

Compound interest

Interest calculated on both the original sum and previously accumulated interest, so the balance grows faster than with simple interest.

Fixed versus variable expenses

Fixed expenses such as rent stay the same regardless of use; variable expenses such as food and fuel change with usage and season.

SMART goals

A goal-setting rule requiring objectives to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound for effective resource planning.

Emergency fund

Savings set aside to cover essential expenses during unexpected events, commonly three to six months of essential spending.

DR ABC first aid

First aid sequence: check danger, check response, open the airway, check breathing, and start circulation support or call emergency services.

Carbon monoxide risk

An odourless, colourless gas from faulty fuel-burning appliances that causes poisoning; prevented by annual servicing and fitting alarms.

Risk assessment steps

Identify the hazard, decide who may be harmed and how, evaluate and control the risk, record findings, then review and update.

Triangle sensory test

A discrimination test where panellists receive three coded samples, two identical, and must identify the odd one to detect small differences.